Indiana’s First Black Bear in 140 Years Captured, Euthanized

Indiana’s love-hate relationship with the first bear to visit the state in over 140 years ended when the unruly bruin was captured and euthanized on Saturday. The bear was found about 30 miles from the Indiana border near Stevensville, Michigan, where officials received reports of the bear raiding bird feeders, bee hives, and even attempting to enter occupied homes.

“The Michigan DNR has been tracking those reports and basing decisions on the bear management guidelines. Recently, reports indicated that the bear began exhibiting habituated behavior by repeatedly trying to enter occupied homes. This behavior now placed the bear as a “Category II” within the guidelines (bear considered a potential threat to public safety),” stated the Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR) on Facebook. “In addition, the bear was no longer fearful of humans, and was not easily scared off. Human safety is our number one concern. The bear was trapped, tranquilized, and humanely euthanized on Sat., April 9. Relocation was not an option in this situation because we felt that we would be relocating the problem to another area of the state; we must think of the welfare of all Michigan citizens.”

The bear reportedly engaged in similar activities when it first ventured into Indiana last year. Since then, it has been straddling the border, making a nuisance of itself on both sides. Residents—especially those not living in the areas where the bear roamed—were initially curious about the animal. Bears have never ventured so far south before, and the last native bear in Indiana died in the late 1870s. However, after a series of brushes with the animal, residents soon called for state wildlife officials to relocate the bear. Experts say the animal retreated back north on its own late last year to prepare for winter.

Now that it is on the move, residents near the border are once again reporting conflicts with the bear. Mark Sargent, regional field operations manager for the Michigan DNR, told the Indianapolis Star that in one incident, the bear woke a family in the middle of night and began pounding on a glass door.

“It was a little bit unsettling for us,” Sargent said, noting that the bear weighed about 300 pounds. “That’s the size of a bear who can get through a door, wall or a screen door.”

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Ender Consumerist

They can’t handle ONE freaking bear? I guess we shouldn’t send an wolves to Indiana…

NorthernMichiganBoy

Amazing how the thoughts are sometimes with the Michigan DNR. This is not a big bruin, but average….Seriously, how would a person react to an animal that hasn’t been seen in that state for over a hundred years!….Of course residents may be upset, but give the animal a chance..Don’t make it sound like there is a monster out there….What it comes down to is that the Michigan DNR does not want to spend the money to relocate. This Dept spends money in many crazy ways that will totally tick you off. Even with the 1000s of bears in Ontario they will live trap and relocate bears. Up in Marathon, Ontario area where this town has many bear problems. Bears are relocated, they are given several chances in relocating. They are ear tagged and if they come back causing problems with residents more than three times, the bear is dispatched. At least the MNR gives these animals a chance……Poor decision on Michigan DNRs part.

danslgc

unruly? lol no they got rid of the bear because they could not catch him for a whole year

danslgc

the bear didnt harm anyone they could of raised funds to send him to the smoky mountains imho

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